Funeral services were held on Thursday, October 5, for 30-year-old Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, who was tragically killed in an ambush-style shooting on September 16.
The emotional gathering at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles drew hundreds of law enforcement officers, friends and family members to pay their respects to the fallen officer.
Clinkunbroomer was remembered as a dedicated lawman who had just proposed to his fiancée, Brittany Lindsey, four days before his untimely death.
Lindsey shared the heartbreaking story of how she texted him about planning their wedding just 30 minutes before he was fatally shot, and he never had the chance to respond.
“I’m so thankful he was able to put this ring on my finger because it was the happiest I had ever seen him,” Lindsey said during her emotional tribute.
Clinkunbroomer’s father, retired LASD Lieutenant Mike Clinkunbroomer, and mother, Kimberly, also spoke at the service, expressing their gratitude for the 30 years they had with their son.
“We’re not saying goodbye, Ryan, but we’re saying thank you,” Mike Clinkunbroomer said. “I’m saying thank you, Ryan, for making me a better human being. Thank you, Ryan, for your love of life. Your mother and I will always miss you. I’ll see you one day in heaven. You’re my hero.”
Ryan Clinkunbroomer followed in the footsteps of his family, becoming the third generation to join the Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff Robert Luna described the fallen deputy as “everything we look for in a deputy sheriff: integrity, a passion to serve, high emotional intelligence and a heart of a guardian,” describing the Clinkunbroomer family’s legacy as one of service, spanning over 86 years in the department.
Clinkunbroomer also had a strong bond with his colleagues, who remembered him as a role model and praised his dedication to his work.
Deputy Andrew De La Rosa, a close friend, commented: “When you saw Clink, you knew it was going to be handled perfectly.”
Deputy Zachary Carlos said that Clinkunbroomer helped him when he first joined the department.
“He was a role model to me as a young deputy and also as a person, because of how he carried himself,” Carlos said.
During the service, attendees heard stories of Clinkunbroomer’s childhood dreams of becoming a law enforcement officer and his strong commitment to his community.
Clinkunbroomer’s alleged shooter, 29-year-old Kevin Eduardo Cataneo Salazar, was apprehended by law enforcement 36 hours after the shooting and faces murder charges. His family had reported previous mental health issues and suicide attempts.
Salazar ultimately pleaded not guilty, citing insanity.
Following the Mass at the cathedral, Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer was laid to rest in a private cemetery service.
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, 95 officers have been killed in the line of duty so far this year, 38 due to gunfire.
